Method of making open heel shoes



5. SMITH ZAZSJUSQ METHOD OF MAKING OPEN HEEL SHOES Filed Sept. 20, .1945- Patented Aug. 5, 1947 rrso STATES rENr OFFICE- 2,425,050 METHQD F MAKING @E'EN HEEL SHQES Sam Smith, Durham, N. H. Application September 20, 1945,3erialNo. 617452459 4 Claims. (Cl. l2 l i This invention relates to improvements in a method of making shoes of the open heel type which have no counter but are provided with a heel strap which extends. from both sides of the upper around the heel of the wearer.

In shoes of this type the pulled-over portion of the upper usually terminates at or near the breast of the heel. This results in two corners of the upper which are attached to they inner sole and are subject to considerable stresses from the heel strap when the shoe is being worn. These corners are thus liable to be pulled away from the inner sole, spoiling the appearance and usefulness of the shoe. It is an object of the present invention to reinforce the uppers at these points so as to make the shoe stronger and more durable.

Further advantageou features of my improved shoe will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment of my invention and from the drawing, of which:

Figure 1 is a bottom view of a partly finished shoe embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the inner sole.

In assembling the parts of the shoe illustrated in the drawing, an inner sole i0 is prepared by cementing or otherwise securing to the heel and a part of the shank portion thereof a heel tuck l2 of stiff fibre sheet to stiffen the inner sole. This heel tuck extends from the heel extremity of the inner sole forward to approximately the middle of the shank portion of the inner sole, the forward end of the heel tuck being skived to avoid a sharp break at this point. A binding iii of thin leather or other suitable material is stitched on to the edges of the inner sole and heel tuck. The inner sole i channeled as at It along this margin from the toe back to points about one and one-half inches forward of the heel. The inner sole is attached to the last I8 and the upper 20 is pulled over and stitched to the inner sole through the channel it, a Welt 22 being secured by the sitching 24 to the inner sole. The upper is further secured to the inner sole by a line of small staples 25 following approximately the line of the channel it. The upper is provided with a wide flap 28 which, according to the present invention, instead of being trimmed off near the row of staples, is cemented firmly to the inner sole. The flap is preferably of sufficient width, onehalf to threequarters of, an inch, so that its. opposed edges touch or nearly touch at the shank portion of the inner sole as indicatedv in- Figure 1. The flaps 28 terminate near the breast line of the heel forming a pair of corners 3B. which are subjected to considerable stresses from the heel strap 32 when the shoe is. being worn. In order to hold the heel portion or the inner sole temporarily against the last, a tab, 35 or narrow webbing is secured to the heel portion of the inner sole, the end of this tab being tacked to the last as indicated at 36. A heel rand 38 is then tacked to the heel portion of the inner sole and a steel shank stiffener All is inserted in place. This steel shank stiffener is of considerable length, extending from the mid portion of the heel to the ball portion of the inner sole. A pair of prongs 42 are formed at the heel end of the steel shank stiiTen-er and are driven into the inner sole to anchor the heel end. The steel shank stiffener is also provided with an intermediate pair of prongs st. These prongs are located at such a point that they will penetrate the flaps of the upper near the corners 3&3 thus providing additional means for securing the upper at these points.

The remaining steps of finishing the shoe, including attaching the out sole and heel, may be carried out as desired.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description of an embodiment of the invention is by way of illustration and not limitation and that the invention is not to be limited, except in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Steps in the art of shoe making which comprise applying an inner sole to a last, pulling over an upper having no counter but having a marginal flap of sufiicient width so that the edges nearly meet at the shank, cementing said flap to the inner sole, applying a steel shank stifiener extending from the middle of the heel to the ball portion of the inner sole, said steel shank stifiener having a pair of prongs at its rear end and an intermediate pair of prongs at its side edges, and driving said intermediate prongs through said flaps near their rear end and into the inner sole.

2. Steps in the art of shoe making which comprise applying an inner sole to a last, pulling over an upper having no counter but having a marginal flap of sufficient width so that the edges nearly meet at the shank, cementing said flap to the inner sole, further securing said flap by a row of staples projecting therethrough into the margirl of the inner sole, applying a steel shank stiffener extending from the middle of the heel to the ball portion of the inner sole, said steel shank having a pair of prongs at its rear end and an intermediate pair of prongs at its side edges, and driving said intermediate prongs through said flaps near their rear end and into the inner sole.

3. Steps in the art of shoe making which comprise cementing a heel tuck of stifi fibre to the heel and shank portions of an inner sole, stitching a binding around the edges of the heel tuck and inner sole, applying the resulting inner sole combination to a last, pulling over an upper having no counter but having a, marginal flap overlying the inner sole and of sufficient extent so that the edges nearly meet at the shank, cementing said fiap to the inner sole, stapling the flap to the inner sole along a line near its edge and further securing the ends of the flap by applying a steel shank stifiener having end prongs and. a pair of intermediate prongs and by driving said intermediate prongs through the ends of said flap and into the innner sole.

4. Steps in the art of shoe making which comprise cementing a heel tuck of stiff fibre to the heel and shank portions of an inner sole, stitching a binding around the edges of the heel tuck and inner sole, channeling the innersole from the toe back as far as the heel portion thereof, pulling over an upper having no counter but having a SAM SMITH.

REFERENCES CETED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Goddu Oct. 31, 1933 Bastable Jan. 9, 1940 Duga et al Nov. 23, 1937 Nickerson Nov. 12, 1940 Moore May 28, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Dec. 11, 1930 

